Dejunking the junk drawer

I know they're a part of life.  A necessity, really.  Everyone has at least one in their house somewhere - even those minimalists types.  I'm talking about none other than the infamous junk drawer.  I'm fortunate enough (ha!) to have 2 in my kitchen.

I think with a name like "junk drawer", they've gotten such a bad rap.  Junk, at least in my mind, means trash.  Garbage.  Crap.  My junk drawers might be littered with their fair share of those items, but there are some really good things in there.  I wish there was another, less offensive name for those utilitarian hot spots, where you can always count on finding a pen (it may not work, but it's there!) or the good scissors.  The junk drawer is like a tiny pantry to me - a place where if whatever I'm looking for isn't in one, it's probably in the other.  Can you relate?

Here's one of my junk drawers.  It's where you can find anything from my son's immunization record book to a  bottle opener that plays "Aggie War Hymn."  Until recently, it could also be a stand in for a picture in one of those "I Spy" books.

It's a wonder that I was able to find anything in there!  Golf balls?  Seriously?  Don't even ask me what the disposable camera's doing in there.  Do they even make those anymore?!

Here's my solution:

I found these interlocking plastic boxes at Target for $10 for a package of 8.  The sides kind of slide together, so they don't shift around as you open up the drawer.  Pure genius!  I tried to group like items together, but that's why a junk drawer becomes so junky, because sometimes there's just no other place to put things.  I tried my best, and in the end, it really worked out nicely.  And I kept the disposable camera.   Don't ask me why.

My other junk drawer wasn't as out of control as the first, but it was still a hot mess.  The main problem with this particular drawer is that it's a narrow drawer where everything tends to get pushed to the back where you can't see it.  Here's the before:

 

See?  Not as bad, but if you could lift up that pile of stickers you'd see that there were about 900 pens and markers down there.  And nails.  And screws to things I don't think we've ever owned.  Just tiny little odds and ends that have no other place to go.  

My solution:

Use 3 of the boxes in the $10 kit and don't let the back of the drawer become a wasteland for trash.  Pens and markers are readily available, and my scissors are in a consistently safe spot so I don't fear amputation when I reach in.  I wish there was enough room for the BBQ lighter to fit, but if I moved it to another location, it would just end up back here.  My husband cannot find this anywhere else but in this drawer.  Don't ask me why.  I think it's a man thing.  

So I hope that you've found some small inspiration in how my clutter solutions can help tame yours.  If not, it's always fun looking through other people's stuff, isn't it?!